Full disclosure here: I don't typically like puzzle games. Unless there's a story involved, such as in the Professor Layton series, I usually leave them on the store shelf. Even a game like Tetris has very rarely appealed to me. With that said, Pushmo (aka PullBlox in other regions), available for download exclusively in the Nintendo 3DS eShop for $7 USD, has become an addiction for me. Developed by Intelligent Systems, the team behind Advance Wars, Fire Emblem, and Paper Mario, Pushmo is a very worthy entry in their impressive catalog of games. It's not only one of the best games on Nintendo's handheld, but it's one of the best games released in 2011.

In Pushmo, you play as Mallo, a chubby character who has been given the duty of rescuing children who have become trapped inside Pushmos. Pushmos are sets of colored blocks, and as the name of the game implies, you must push, pull, and jump your way to the top of each set in order to save the children. The concept behind the game is incredibly simple, but don't let that fool you. Pushmo is a challenging game, especially in the later levels.

You can move each block a maximum of three spaces, and since Mallo is a rather rotund figure, he doesn't really jump that well. You'll need to make sure that your blocks are close enough together for Mallo to climb. In later levels, you'll be treated to gameplay tweaks such as switches and ladders. Hit a switch and the platform of blocks will all jut out at once. Ladders allow you to quickly go from one end of the level to another. The other important gameplay features to note will really help you ease the occasional frustration that Pushmo provides. At the bottom of every stage is a button that allows you to push all the blocks back to their original position. When you've been working on a puzzle for twenty minutes (and it will happen, trust me), sometimes you just need to start over. This is an easy way of doing it without exiting the level. You can also rewind time with a touch of the "L" trigger. If you happen to fall off a block, or even if you realize you just screwed up moving something, it's nice to be able to rewind back to anywhere in the level at the touch of a button.

In terms of presentation, Pushmo looks and sounds exactly how you expect it would. Each level is full of bright, vibrant colors, and even though you're really just looking at a set of blocks, the game has a solid visual style. Some of the levels have also been made to look like classic Nintendo sprites, which is very cool. Obviously, the look won't be for everyone, but there's definitely an undeniable charm to Pushmo. The audio stays out of the way for the most part, but it does get a little repetitive. There doesn't seem to be much variety in the soundtrack, as you'll hear the same level music over and over. Overall, it's harmless, but it could have been done better.

As great and accessible as the gameplay is, Pushmo's greatest asset lies in its play value. It comes with 250 levels to play through. In addition to those 250, you can also create your own in the Pushmo Studio, and share them online via QR codes with other players (Look at our huge Pushmo QR Code Guide! We have more than 100 puzzles with character designs!). The level creator is very easy to use, and your levels can look just as good as the ones that Intelligent Systems put together. That's a lot of value for your $7.

Pushmo is a fantastic gameplay experience, and a must-buy for anyone who owns a 3DS. There are minor audio gripes, but the game is too good to pass up. Even with the recent surge of quality titles in the 3DS line-up, Pushmo stands out as one of the best games of 2011.

GameDynamo's Score for Pushmo (3DS)

	Score	Description
Graphics	93	Not great in the traditional sense, but Pushmo's style is undeniable.
Sound	71	The tracks get repetitive, but for the most part, they are nice and not too overwhelming.
Gameplay	96	Accessible and addictive puzzle gameplay that very rarely leads to frustration.
Play Value	100	More value than you could ever ask for in your 3DS, especially for a $7 download.
Final Score	90	One of the best puzzle games available for any platform.

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